By Erin Hicks
EMS1 Associate Editor
WASHINGTON — Four responders who risked their own lives during a sniper attack that killed a member of their department have been honored with the highest award given to public safety officers.
Firefighter-medics Andrew Neff and Michael Chellis, Firefighter/EMT Timothy Wisely and Fire Lt. William Appel were given the Medal of Valor at a ceremony in Washington, DC, Wednesday.
The members of the Maplewood, Mo., Fire Department were acknowledged for their response during the July 21, 2008, gunman attack that left Firefighter-medic Ryan Hummert dead.
They received the awards during a ceremony in an office building adjacent to the White House presided over by Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder. During the event, a total 14 EMS personnel, firefighters and police officers were honored.
“Today is a day for every man and woman in uniform to feel proud of you and, quite frankly, for you to feel proud of yourself,” Vice President Biden said
During the day of the incident, Appel, Wisely, Chellis, and Neff were dispatched, along with Hummert, to a reported vehicle fire. When they arrived, they found a small pick-up truck engulfed in flames in the driveway of a house.
As Hummert and Wisely advanced a hose line toward the burning vehicle, there was a loud explosion and Hummert fell to the ground. Wisely began medical treatment and quickly saw Hummert had been shot in the head.
Neff ran to help Wisely treat Hummert but none of the responders knew the location of the gunman. While waiting for an ambulance, the gunman fired again, wounding Maplewood Police Officer Adam Fite in the shoulder.
While still in the line of fire, Neff administered emergency medical treatment and dragged him to safety. While Hummert died at the scene, Fite was treated at the hospital and made a full recovery; the sniper set a house on fire at the scene and died.
“What always amazes me is how you guys do it like it is part of your DNA,” Vice President Biden said during the ceremony to the 14 award winners. “I don’t know what you’re made of. I think you’re all crazy. But God love you for it, risking your life every day.”